The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-02-09
Wh ere is Your Place.

Christ's Church, as It was for the army
during the war. But what is every
Christians right place.
We answer it is the one for which God
made him, and for which the Holy
Spirit converted him. To mistake it is
a sad blunder; to desert it is disgrace.
The Bible acknowledges that God made
His servants for some especial ''niche;;"
for it says ''having the gift differing
according to the grace that is given us,
let us wait on our ministering; or he
that teacheth on teaching; or he that
exhorted on exhortation; he that giveth
let him do it with simplicity; he that
ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth
mercy, with cheerfulness." The prlnci-
pie laid down here is that every man or
woman who loves Jesus should select,
and should fill that post of duty for
which his or her gifts have fitted them.
Blu. 'let no man neglect the gift that is
in him."
Some men--like Spurgeon and New
man Hall and Bishop Simpson-wcre
created for the pulpit. God gave them
clear heads, warm hearts, strong lungs
and eloquent tongues, and hunger for
saving souls. To possess such gifts IS q
clear call to the ministry. And thou
sands of humble preachers who cannot
attract Spurgeon's crowds, are yet as
clearly called to the ministry of the Word
as the London Boanarges.
Suppose o man or woman feel--after
deep prayer or self-examinatlon-
that God has not called them
to the pulpit what then 7
Must they be silent9 Are all the speak
ing gifts of the pious lawyer, or doctor,
or merchant, or mechanic to run to
wastea No, verify! Let such proclaim
the glad tidings of Christ, and the story
of their own Christian experience in the
prayer-meeting, or the mission school, or
the cottage conference meeting, or
wherever they can find souls to plead
with. How successfully this lay-labor
may be made, let such men as Harlan
Page and Richard Weaver and George
H. Stuart and D. L. Moody and Uncle
Johnny Vassar bear witness. Let the
powerful lay preaching heard every day
in 'sFulton street, answer. Some of
the best discourses I have ever heard
were but five or ten minutes long, and
were delivered in my own prayer meet
ing.
A Christian who is keen for work,
will soon find his place. If he is "apt
to teach" he or she will soon gather the
Sabbath.;chool class, and will be there,
Bible in hand, every Sunday, even
though the rain spatters on the pave
ments. Commend me to the teacher
who wears ater-proof and always
consults conscience sooner than the
barometer!
Whoever has the gift of song should
join in Gods great choir, at every re-
ligious service. The owner of good
voice must give an account for that
voice at the day of judgment. We shall
never have genuine congregational singing
until every redeemed child of Christ
sings from duty, and consecrates the
gift of music to the Lord. Those who
expect to sing in heaven had better
practice here.
Tract. distribution is going too
much out of fashion. It is
a blessed and heaven-honored
work. and any one with spare time and a
tongue and a little pious tact, can go
out with a bundle of tracks to the abodes
of ignorance and irreligion.
Those who cannot cxhort or teach in q
Sunday School, can at least live for
Jesus at home and come and join in the
prayers of the prayer-meeting. The
oldest, the timidest, the least gifted can
do surely as much as add his penny
when the contribution-box is passed.
The gift of ''cup of cold water" in
Christ's name has its reward. Every
one whom Jesus saves has place as
signed in the vineyard. An idle Chris
tian is monster! Friend have you
found Jour place?-Reu Theodore l..
Luyler.
Christians are often employed in dig
rinr wells to find comfort, and the
deeper they 60 the darker they get; the
Fountain of life, salvation and comfort,
is above; call upon thy God aud look
up, aud the light of His love will soon
cheer thee.
AS water runs down from the swelling
hills, aud flows together in the lowly
vale, so grace flows not but into humble
hearts.